Speaking of Drugs

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Originally posted by: jatki99
Your as bad as a politician,you'll say absolutely anything to further you crusade of "good vs evil".
I know for a fact that all my drs (and there have been a bunch, a plethora you might say) and they have ALWAYS informed us about costs of generic and name brand as in "be careful and make sure to ask for generic,name is super expensive" Same holds true for our pharmacist(s) which is CVS (they know me by name HEHE). I am well aware of of price diff's because i always check out of curiousity. I tell you one thing i would never try and screw the insurance co just "cause i could" and sure as hell wouldn't laugh and brag about it if i did.

J

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Originally posted by: franksynopsis

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Originally posted by: Chilcoot

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Originally posted by: BobOrme
I don't have insurance . . . .

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I'm sorry to hear that, I really am. What do you expect us to do if you are hit but that damn bus tomorrow?

Are you very wealthy? Are you counting on the charity of others? Do you believe you are invincible and therefore can't need expensive medical care?

I mean this seriously, lots of people I know and respect are in a similar position. I know I'm too much of a sucker to watch them get sick and do nothing, so I try to find ways to get them covered. What would you have us do for you?

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This wasn't directed at me, but I take it personally. Many people who have no health insurance -- myself included -- are in that position because of financial necessity, not negligence. The question "What do you expect us to do..." implies a degree of empowerment I do not currently enjoy.

I've never been hit by a bus, but I do have coronary artery disease and have visited the emergency room -- both with and without insurance. There was no difference in the treatment I was given. The fact that I did or did not have coverage never entered into it. The only difference was the manner in which the bills were paid, months later. Even with a bit of collection agency harassment, it all seemed like fair trade-off to me -- especially since having a heart attack and going to the hospital was not something I planned in advance.

So, while I did not intentionally ask for "the charity of others," I certainly received it. My last bill was $70,000 and the hospital only asked that I pay $600.

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Originally posted by: chefantwon
Frank, do tell how you managed to get the hospital to cut yours down to that figure. I've got $10k to pay from a total hospital bill of $100k. Of course I'm not mentioning the other $5k from the doctors.

Why can't they take all the bills and put them together so you only pay one big instead of 12? At least I'm down to 4 bills to pay.

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Originally posted by: franksynopsis

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Originally posted by: chefantwon
Frank, do tell how you managed to get the hospital to cut yours down to that figure. I've got $10k to pay from a total hospital bill of $100k. Of course I'm not mentioning the other $5k from the doctors.

Why can't they take all the bills and put them together so you only pay one big instead of 12? At least I'm down to 4 bills to pay.

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At the time, I had no income at all, having recently lost my job of 14 years. They started doing the paperwork while I was in ER, and when I was released a few days later (after a remarkably efficient stent placement) I was given several phone numbers to call and a lot of forms to fill out. I eventually received a bill for $70,000 and change, and when I called the hospital to discuss it -- I was told my case was still being processed. Finally, the invoice for $600 came. I was allowed to make payments. I also had to call my cardiologist, EMS and the labs to get all my other bills reduced. Everyone complied. I think I'm exceedingly lucky.

This is a hospital in Austin owned by the Sisters of Charity. I don't know how things work elsewhere. (One odd question kept coming up. Do I own a boat?)

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